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“What’s going on?” he asked. “What’d Rocko Schneider have to say?”
“He called to tell me what happened when he was riding his motorcycle past the Haslem property late last night.”
“How late was it?”
“Close to midnight.”
“The roads must’ve been deserted at that time.”
Most people in Coyote Canyon went to bed early—on weeknights, anyway. They were farmers or ranchers who started at dawn. But Rocko’s burger joint didn’t open until eleven. Even then, he had employees who could probably open the restaurant for him. “That’s true. Which is why you’ll be even more shocked by what he said.”
Hendrix definitely seemed interested. “Which was...”
She’d thought it would be easier to tell him it was his aunt who’d most likely harmed the well. But she didn’t want him to think she was taking any pleasure in being right about the woman who’d been so good tohim. He had to feel a great deal of gratitude toward Lynn and probably plenty of love, too. “He said he nearly wrecked into a white truck that came barreling out onto the highway right in front of him.”
“From the Haslem property.”
She nodded.
“What kind of truck?”
“He didn’t know.”
“Did he get a look at the driver?”
“No. He said the truck had a Fetterman Well Services logo on the door, though.”
Shock replaced his scowl. “You can’t be serious...”
“I’m afraid I am.”
He hung his head for several seconds. When he lifted it, he said, “You know it wouldn’t be Stuart.”
“Idon’tknow that,” she said. “It’s possible Lynn put him up to it.” After all, she’d been behind almost all the pain Ellen had suffered since her parents’ divorce, and Stuart hadn’t shown a heck of a lot of resistance. Lynn had a great deal of power over him.
“I can’t imagine he’d go that far. Even for her. He pretty much tries to remain neutral. Never says anything when she’s complaining about you.”
“Does she complain about me a lot?” Ellen asked drily.
“Come on,” he said with a gently remonstrative look. “You know she talks. I’m not revealing anything.”
Still, it stung to hear the truth. Although she had no idea why she cared what Lynn thought, especially after so many years. It was about finally winning the approval of the one person who could’ve made such a difference but had never even given her a chance, she supposed. It was a very different situation, but it reminded her of how she’d felt in high school when the boy of her dreams seemed to like her—and then suddenly backed away without any sort of warning or explanation. She’d spent the whole of her senior year trying to understand what she’d done wrong so she could finally achieve closure and feel okay about it. But he would hardly speak to her afterward. That it hadn’t worked out and she’d never know the reason was just something she had to live with—like her rejection by her father and his second wife. “Ididknow,” she acknowledged. “But...never mind.”
Sympathy filled his eyes. “I’m sorry, Ellen. The more I get to know you, the worse I feel about what’s happened. If my aunt sabotaged the well...” He stretched his neck as if trying to ease the stress he was under.
“If she did, then what?” Ellen asked, prompting him to finish. “I can’t imagine you’ll want me to go to the police.”
“No. If she put cement down that well it was a stupid move—one she must’ve made in the heat of the moment. She gets impulsive when she’s mad. I won’t lie about that.”
“Saying it was a rash decision makes it okay?”
“Not at all. But...” He combed his fingers through his hair, causing it to stand up in front. “Shit. I don’t know. If she did it, you have every right to make her pay the price. A little justice would have to feel good after all the hurt she’s caused you.”
Ellen could hear the regret in his voice. “And yet...”
“I don’t want to see her humiliated in front of everyone she knows. She’s a proud person, cares a lot about her image and how she’s perceived. Even if she claims she didn’t do it, if Rocko saw a Fetterman truck drive off the property at that hour, it won’t look good. She can deny it all she wants, but there are probably very few people who’d believe her, given the animosity between you two.”
Most people still thought there was animosity between her and Hendrix, too. The pendulum of public favor might finally—finally—swing in her direction. She’d been waiting a long time for that. Deserved it. Didn’t she?
